Basic Studies on Filaria and Filariasis

Although Japanese parasitologists and physicians have published many papers on the epidemiology, clinical signs and symptoms, treatment, and control of filariasis, they also conducted basic research on filaria or filariasis using materials obtained from patients and animal models. This basic research includes morphology, immunology, physiology and pharmacology. Recently, most papers are written in English and published in peer-reviewed international journals. However, decades ago, scientific papers were usually written in Japanese and published in local journals. Therefore, there are many valuable papers that have been hidden from foreign eyes. In this review article, the authors shed light on these hidden papers published years ago. The research subjects reviewed in this article are: (i) periodicity of microfilariae, (ii) immunology, (iii) mode of action of diethylcarbamazine, (iv) parasite-intermediate host relationship, and (v) others.